玄
mysterious · occultness · black · deep · profound
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Shape of twisted thread. Deep.
Symbolism
Entrance, mystery, profound. Represents depth.
Spiritual Meaning
Represents profound mystery, gateway to ultimate truth in Taoism.
Component Breakdown
亠 + 幺
Words & Expressions
Words written with 玄
Four-Character Compounds
天地玄黄
てんちげんこう
heaven is black and earth is yellow; heaven and earth
Proverbs & Idioms
玄人はだし
くろうとはだし
Putting professionals to shame
An amateur who rivals experts
Related Figures & Stories
武田信玄
Name contains 玄
Takeda Shingen was a Japanese samurai and daimyō of the Sengoku period.
Wikipedia杉田玄白
Name contains 玄
Sugita Genpaku was a Japanese physician and scholar known for his translation of Kaitai Shinsho and a founder of Rangaku and Ranpō in Japan.
Wikipedia銭玄同
Name contains 玄
Qian Xuantong was a Chinese linguist and writer considered to be a leading figure of the Doubting Antiquity School, along with Gu Jiegang.
Wikipedia久坂玄瑞
Name contains 玄
Kusaka Genzui , was a samurai of the Japanese domain of Chōshū who was active during the Bakumatsu period and a key proponent of the sonnō jōi…
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
Similar Kanji
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 玄 mean in Japanese?
玄 means mysterious, occultness, black, deep, profound.
How do you read 玄?
On'yomi: ゲン (GEN). Kun'yomi: くろ、くろ.い (kuro, kuroi).
How many strokes does 玄 have?
玄 has 5 strokes. Its radical is 玄 (mysterious).
Is 玄 a good kanji for a tattoo?
玄 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means mysterious, occultness, black, deep, profound. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.